Justin Koontz charged with rape, allegedly used "date rape drug" on victim

Friday, October 16, 2015

A Bloomfield man who allegedly drugged a woman with a "date rape drug," then repeatedly sexually assaulted her, is behind bars in the Greene County Jail where he's being held on a $55,000 bond.

Justin Lee Koontz, 24, was taken into custody and booked into jail at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant that was issued out of Greene Superior Court earlier that same day.

When Koontz appeared before Superior Court Judge Dena Martin on Friday morning for an initial hearing, he was charged with two serious felony counts: Rape when the victim was unaware of the defendant's actions, with an enhancing circumstance, a Level 1 Felony; and rape when the victim was unaware of the defendant's actions, a Level 3 Felony.

Justin Lee Koontz

Jail and court records show Koontz with an address of 4082 North Wilkie School Road in rural Bloomfield, but the incident allegedly took place at his previous residence located at 1037 South Lewis Street in Bloomfield where he lived with his wife.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours on October 19, 2014, and the case has been under investigation by Bloomfield Deputy Marshal Marvin Holt since it was reported that morning to the Greene County Sheriff's Department by the victim who said she was a friend of Koontz's wife and that she had been visiting the Koontz residence the evening before.

During an interview, the victim said she did not drink frequently but did accept drinks, of cookie dough-flavored vodka, from Koontz that night. She said she started feeling really weird, guessing intoxicated, and she kept waking up then falling asleep. She could not remember everything that happened in the next few hours, but she could remember "bits and pieces."

According to a lengthy, and detailed, probable cause affidavit prepared by Officer Marvin Holt, the victim said she remembered waking up multiple times when she was being sexually assaulted which included intercourse and oral sex. She remembered trying to talk to tell Koontz to stop but said that "it was like she couldn't move or even say anything." At one point she woke up and was choking, and Koontz's pelvic area was in her face. The victim said she felt helpless.

Officer Holt advised the victim to have a sexual assault evaluation done and she traveled to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where she was examined by a SANE nurse who performed an evaluation and obtained swabs from numerous physical locations as well as cuttings from the victim's underwear. The nurse reported the woman suffered tearing of her vaginal wall most definitely caused by sexual activity and that she had numerous bruises on her arms.

A search warrant was requested and granted for DNA from Koontz and it was executed when Koontz was interviewed at the sheriff's department.

During the interview with Holt, Koontz said a couple of times that he was "pretty sure" he didn't have sexual intercourse or touch the victim, before he halted the interview to wait for his attorney to be present.

DNA mouth swabs from Koontz were submitted to the Indiana State Police Lab for comparison with swabs obtained from the victim. Results from various tests were returned over the course of the following weeks and months.

When a certificate of analysis completed by an ISP forensic scientist was returned, the results showed DNA taken from both the victim's underwear and swabs taken from the victim during her examination, were consistent with the DNA profile of Koontz.

In addition, the victim's urine test results showed there was Gamma-HydroxyButric Acid (GHB), a known "date rape drug" and controlled substance, in her system at the time of her exam.

In the affidavit, Holt explained, "GHB is defined by a Rape Treatment Center ... as a powerful synthetic drug that has euphoric and sedative effects. It acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. It is rapidly metabolized by the body. The effects of the drug can be felt within 15 to 20 minutes after ingestion. GHB can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, respiratory depression and intense drowsiness. In some cases it is known to even cause unconsciousness and coma. As a result you may not be able to recall what happens to you. When GHB is consumed with alcohol or other drugs, the consequences could be life threatening, without immediate care, it could be fatal."

On October 2, Koontz and his attorney Roy Graham attended a polygraph appointment at the Jasper Post of the Indiana State Police.

During the interview with ISP Polygraph Technician and Polygraph Expert Witness Dan Gress, Koontz allegedly changed his story from the original interview and he claimed that he was raped by the alleged victim.

After taking the polygraph test, Gress reported the test detected deception by Koontz and Gress said he was convinced Koontz was not being truthful.

With supporting DNA evidence, testimony, a polygraph examination and test results indicating use of GHB, a criminal case was filed against Koontz early Wednesday.

During his initial hearing on Friday, Koontz was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. Court records do not indicate that he requested a public defender -- one was not appointed.

On Friday night, Koontz remained in custody on the bond of $55,000 surety with ten percent allowed -- he could be released by posting $5,500 cash.

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  • What a creep.

    -- Posted by lintonite on Sat, Oct 17, 2015, at 1:48 PM
  • That is just plum sick, turns my stomach. Makes me want to puke what this poor woman went through. May God keep his hand on this precious young woman. What an awful thing to happen. May God keep his hand on all women, in such abusive situations. Men should be protecting women, not hurting them. So many men are so immature, a married man, and how many times does this happen, may he be punished what he's done!

    Something like this should be the death penalty!! He's a Nasty scum. Who would have anything to do with someone like that!

    I hope he suffers for all he's done! May he rot in jail!

    Our children needs trash like this kept off the street, & out of our county!

    -- Posted by GreeneParent on Mon, Oct 19, 2015, at 1:20 AM
  • agreed GreeneParent.

    -- Posted by sassy12 on Fri, Oct 23, 2015, at 10:51 AM
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